--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes you think you know more than…" description: "\"“Sometimes you think you know more than you really do—people, events, things that are true and things that are not. Sometimes you think you know yourse..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/patricia-maclachlan-14887_true-things_sometimes-you-think-you-know-more-than-y_2853628.jpg" --- # Sometimes you think you know more than you really… ![“Sometimes you think you know more than you really do—people, events, things that are true and things that are not. Sometimes you think you know yourself. But then, surprise, it is someone else who shows you what is really there, like the truth a photograph shows.” quote by Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/patricia-maclachlan-14887_true-things_sometimes-you-think-you-know-more-than-y_2853628.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/patricia-maclachlan-14887_true-things_sometimes-you-think-you-know-more-than-y_2853628.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/patricia-maclachlan-14887_true-things_sometimes-you-think-you-know-more-than-y_2853628.jpg) > ““Sometimes you think you know more than you really do—people, events, things that are true and things that are not. Sometimes you think you know yourself. But then, surprise, it is someone else who shows you what is really there, like the truth a photograph shows.”” [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We think we know more than we do; others reveal deeper truths, like a photograph exposing reality. **In simple terms:** We overestimate knowledge; others reveal truth. Key Takeaway Stay open to new perspectives. Themes knowledge humility truth Mood humble curious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - learning environments - personal growth - creative writing Key Concepts perception self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions limit your understanding? - Who shows you hidden truths? A Different Perspective Self‑deception can persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Do you think that the things people make fools of themselves about are any less real and true than the things they behave sensibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/do-you-think-that-the-things-people-make-fools-of-themselves-about-2/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“I think there are two kinds of TRUE THINGS-- true things that ARE, and true things that ARE NOT, but MIGHT be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/i-think-there-are-two-kinds-of-true-things-true-things-that-are-and/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [I can believe things that are true and things that aren't true and I can believe things where nobody knows if they're true or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-can-believe-things-that-are-true-and-things-that-aren-t-true-and-i/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Well, I don't know," said the Story Girl thoughtfully. "I think there are two kinds of true thing - true things that are ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/well-i-don-t-know-said-the-story-girl-thoughtfully-i-think-there-are/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“Sometimes impossible things are true things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-linko/sometimes-impossible-things-are-true-things/) [Gina Linko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-linko/) > [“People think that they think things, and they also think that they know things. They could usefully give some attention to the question of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/people-think-that-they-think-things-and-they-also-think-that-they/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [There is so much more to the things that we think we know from afar. The close you get the more complex it is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meiselas/there-is-so-much-more-to-the-things-that-we-think-we-know-from-afar/) [Susan Meiselas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meiselas/) > [We must hold fast to the austere but true doctrine as to what really governs politics and saves or destroys states. Having in mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/we-must-hold-fast-to-the-austere-but-true-doctrine-as-to-what-really/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [The best way to show people true things is from a direction that they had not imagined the truth coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-best-way-to-show-people-true-things-is-from-a-direction-that-they/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [ Early in his life Mr. \[Ezra\] Pound met with strong, continued, and unintelligent opposition. If people keep opposing you when you are right, you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-jarrell/early-in-his-life-mr-ezra-pound-met-with-strong-continued-and/) [Randall Jarrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-jarrell/) > [“He said that some things are better left in the past. And true things are destined to repeat themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-young/he-said-that-some-things-are-better-left-in-the-past-and-true-things/) [Suzanne Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-young/) > [I knew it was too good to be true. Some things never change...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-knew-it-was-too-good-to-be-true-some-things-never-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I always hated watching movies where the couple falls so hard and so fast. I had always thought that was too good to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-stone/i-always-hated-watching-movies-where-the-couple-falls-so-hard-and-so/) [Amanda Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-stone/) > [Doc still loved true things but he knew that it was not a general love and it could be a very dangerous mistress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/doc-still-loved-true-things-but-he-knew-that-it-was-not-a-general/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“Sometimes, Shan's father had told him, people can live eighty and ninety years and only briefly, once or twice at most, glimpse the true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-pattison/sometimes-shan-s-father-had-told-him-people-can-live-eighty-and/) [Eliot Pattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-pattison/) ## More by Patricia MacLachlan > [Each time I write a new piece, whether a novel, a picture book, a speech or anything, really, it has so much to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/each-time-i-write-a-new-piece-whether-a-novel-a-picture-book-a-speech/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [I love to talk to children about making mistakes. Its important that I tell them about how I dont get it right the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/i-love-to-talk-to-children-about-making-mistakes-its-important-that-i/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [My greatest fear is being somewhere without a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/my-greatest-fear-is-being-somewhere-without-a-book/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [I have great respect for children. And I have great respect for their ability as writers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/i-have-great-respect-for-children-and-i-have-great-respect-for-their/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [You should know that there are some things for which there are no answers, no matter how beautiful the words may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/you-should-know-that-there-are-some-things-for-which-there-are-no/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [“Sadness is Steam rising Tears falling A breath you take in But can't let out As hard as you try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/sadness-is-steam-rising-tears-falling-a-breath-you-take-in-but-can-t/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [I think it's important to remember where I began. I know that when I talk to other writers, say, writers from the South or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/i-think-it-s-important-to-remember-where-i-began-i-know-that-when-i/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [“Where else," I will say, "does an old turtle crossing the path Make all the difference in the world?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/where-else-i-will-say-does-an-old-turtle-crossing-the-path-make-all/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [“Byrd: It is important because we are giving her something to take away with her when she goes. Lalo: What will she take with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/byrd-it-is-important-because-we-are-giving-her-something-to-take-away/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [I never work from an outline, and often I don't know how the story will end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/i-never-work-from-an-outline-and-often-i-don-t-know-how-the-story/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [I'm working on a bunch of things with my daughter Emily. In some ways, she's a smarter and better editor than I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/i-m-working-on-a-bunch-of-things-with-my-daughter-emily-in-some-ways/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [“There are always things to miss," said Maggie. "No matter where you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/there-are-always-things-to-miss-said-maggie-no-matter-where-you-are/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [My inspiration for writing is all the wonderful books that I read as a child and that I still read. I think that for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/my-inspiration-for-writing-is-all-the-wonderful-books-that-i-read-as/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [“...there are some things for which there are no answers, no matter how beautiful the words may be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/there-are-some-things-for-which-there-are-no-answers-no-matter-how/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [Life is made up of circles ... Life is not a straight line ... And sometimes we circle back to a past time. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/life-is-made-up-of-circles-life-is-not-a-straight-line-and-sometimes/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) [Explore all 45 Patricia MacLachlan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) ## More True things quotes > [We must hold fast to the austere but true doctrine as to what really governs politics and saves or destroys states. Having in mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/we-must-hold-fast-to-the-austere-but-true-doctrine-as-to-what-really/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [“I think there are two kinds of TRUE THINGS-- true things that ARE, and true things that ARE NOT, but MIGHT be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/i-think-there-are-two-kinds-of-true-things-true-things-that-are-and/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [Doc still loved true things but he knew that it was not a general love and it could be a very dangerous mistress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/doc-still-loved-true-things-but-he-knew-that-it-was-not-a-general/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“I always hated watching movies where the couple falls so hard and so fast. I had always thought that was too good to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-stone/i-always-hated-watching-movies-where-the-couple-falls-so-hard-and-so/) [Amanda Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-stone/) > [I knew it was too good to be true. Some things never change...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-knew-it-was-too-good-to-be-true-some-things-never-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He said that some things are better left in the past. And true things are destined to repeat themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-young/he-said-that-some-things-are-better-left-in-the-past-and-true-things/) [Suzanne Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-young/) > [“Sometimes, Shan's father had told him, people can live eighty and ninety years and only briefly, once or twice at most, glimpse the true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-pattison/sometimes-shan-s-father-had-told-him-people-can-live-eighty-and/) [Eliot Pattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-pattison/) > [The best way to show people true things is from a direction that they had not imagined the truth coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-best-way-to-show-people-true-things-is-from-a-direction-that-they/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [ Early in his life Mr. \[Ezra\] Pound met with strong, continued, and unintelligent opposition. If people keep opposing you when you are right, you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-jarrell/early-in-his-life-mr-ezra-pound-met-with-strong-continued-and/) [Randall Jarrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-jarrell/) > [I want to believe as many true things and as few false things as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillahunty/i-want-to-believe-as-many-true-things-and-as-few-false-things-as/) [Matt Dillahunty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillahunty/) > [Writers say many true things about their own experiences with publicity and promotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/writers-say-many-true-things-about-their-own-experiences-with/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [The entire vitality of art depends upon its being either full of truth, or full of use; and that, however pleasant, wonderful, or impressive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-entire-vitality-of-art-depends-upon-its-being-either-full-of/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [He said true things, but called them by wrong names.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/he-said-true-things-but-called-them-by-wrong-names/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [I was saying the right things, but not the really true things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/i-was-saying-the-right-things-but-not-the-really-true-things/) [Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) > [When you are young so many things are difficult to believe, and yet the dullest people will tell you that they are true--such things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-are-young-so-many-things-are-difficult-to-believe-and-yet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 64 True things quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Sometimes you think you know more than you really do—people, events, things that are true and things that are not. 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